ai4bharat/Pralekha huggingface dataset:
Ministry of Railways
Allotment of 5 MHz spectrum in 700 MHz band to Indian Railways
Enhances safety and security of train operations
Brings strategic shift in Railways operations & safety
Ensures seamless communication with loco pilots and guards,
thereby improving safety
Provides secure voice, video and data communication services for operational, safety and security applications
Estimated investment of the total project is more than Rs. 25,000 Crore
Project will be completed in next 5 years
In addition, Railways has approved Train Collision Avoidance System, an indigenously developed system, which will help in avoiding train collisions thereby ensuring passenger safety
Giving a boost to ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ mission, Government has approved allotment of 5 MHz Spectrum in 700 MHz frequency band to Indian Railways for public safety and security services at stations and in trains.
With this spectrum, Indian Railways has envisaged to provide LTE  based Mobile Train Radio Communication on its route. The estimated investment in the project is more than Rs. 25,000 Crore. The project will be completed in the next 5 years.
In addition to this, Indian Railways has approved TCAS , an indigenously developed ATP  System, which will help in avoiding train collisions thereby reducing accidents and ensuring passenger safety.
It brings a strategic shift in Railways’ operations and maintenance regime. It will help in improving the safety and increasing the line capacity to accommodate more trains using the existing infrastructure. The modern rail network will result in reduced transportation cost and higher efficiency. Also, it will attract multinational industries to set up manufacturing units to fulfill the ‘Make in India’ mission and generate employment.
The purpose of the LTE for Indian Railways is to provide secure and reliable voice, video and data communication services for operational, safety and security applications. It will be used for modern signalling and train protection systems and ensure seamless communication between loco pilots and guards. It will also enable Internet of Things  based remote asset monitoring especially of coaches, wagons & locos, and live video feed of CCTV cameras in the train coaches to ensure efficient, safer and faster train operations.
The Spectrum charges may be levied based on formula basis as prescribed by Department of Telecommunications for Royalty Charges and License Fee for Captive use as recommended by Telecom Regulatory Authority of India.
Ministry of Women and Child Development
195 One Stop Centres are functional in the country to support women-affected by violence
Ministry has approved setting up of five more One Stop Centres: DR. VIRENDRA KUMAR
The Ministry is implementing Scheme for setting up One Stop Centre since 1st April 2015 to support women-affected by violence. Under the scheme, it has been envisaged that One Stop Centre would be set up in every district across the country in phased manner. So far,195 One Stop Centres are functional in the country to provide single window services such as medical aid, police assistance, legal aid/case management, psychosocial counseling and temporary shelter to women affected by violence.
Ministry has approved setting up of five One Stop Centres at Thiruvanatapuram, Thissur, Mallapuram, Kannur, Wayanad districts of Kerala.
The above Information was given by Minister of State for Women and Child Development, DR. VIRENDRA KUMAR in reply to an Unstarred Question in the Rajya Sabha, today.
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Ministry of Commerce & Industry
Sh. Goyal emphasises India’s 10x+ growth potential in the next 25 years
Focus on 4Ts of Trade, Technology, Tourism and Talent: Sh. Goyal
Sh. Piyush Goyal delivers the keynote address at the Business Meetingwith Federation of Belgian Enterprises
During his two-day visit to Brussels to attend the first Ministerial meeting of India-European Union Trade and Technology Council , Union Minister for Commerce & Industry, Textiles, Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution, Sh. Piyush Goyal was invited to attend the business meeting organised by Federation of Enterprises in Belgium . The meeting was held at the Federation office wherein the Minister delivered a Keynote address.
The meeting was attended by more than 28 business delegates from the Belgium side along with six members of the Indian business delegation. Mr. Rene Branders, President of FEB gave the welcome remarks and the meeting was moderated by Mr Pieter Timmermans, CEO of FEB. In his keynote address, Sh. Goyal emphasised India’s 10x+ growth potential in the next 25 years which would reinforce its position as the fastest growing large economy, focus on 4Ts of Trade, Technology, Tourism and Talent, its ambitious mission for sustainability and renewable energy which is evidenced by its performance of achieving Paris targets in 2021 itself – 9 years ahead of schedule, etc.
This was followed by roundtable discussions which included testimonials from Belgium enterprises which are present and operating in India, testimonials from Indian and foreign companies present in Belgium and remarks from business organisations present during the meeting. The issues discussed during the roundtable include tariff and duties, protection of IPR, investments, need for regulations in waste management sector, reducing regulatory compliances, zero carbon technology and green financing, off-shore wind systems, etc.
In response to the round table discussion, Sh. Goyal under scored that there must be a level playing field for both the developed and emerging economies while addressing the global challenges such as climate issues. While India is committed to achieve its targets of net zero emissions, there should be meaningful contribution by all concerned and that commitments made under the Paris agreement must be adhered to by all countries. He also expressed hope that that the mechanism of India EU Trade and Technology Council  could emerge as an effective platform for finding solutions to these challenges. The Minister also noted that Indian and EU share several common concerns with respect to WTO issues where their positions are largely aligned and therefore, through their collective efforts, could jointly contribute to find consensus-based solutions in the upcoming WTO Ministerial Conference.
Ministry of Defence
MORMUGAO, INDIAN NAVY'S SECOND SHIP OF THE PROJECT 15B, SAILS FOR MAIDEN SEA TRIALS ON GOA LIBERATION DAY
Mormugao, Indian Navy's second indigenous stealth destroyer of the P15B class, planned to be commissioned in mid 2022, proceeded on her maiden sea sortie today. 19th December is perhaps the most befitting date for the ship to put to sea as today the nation celebrates 60 years of Goa’s liberation from Portuguese rule. The Indian Navy played a pivotal role in the liberation and dedicating the ship's name to the maritime state of Goa will not just enhance the bonding between the Indian Navy and the people of Goa, but also link the ship's identity permanently to the crucial role the Navy played in nation-building.
Mormugao is being built at Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Ltd  as part of the Project 15B destroyers. The ship incorporates several niche indigenous technologies and is a shining example of Atma Nirbhar Bharat. She has provided thrust and impetus to the 'Make in India' initiative.
Mormugao will add significantly to the Indian Navy’s combat capabilities. With the recent commissioning in November 2021 of INS Visakhapatnam and the fourth P75 submarine INS Vela, commencement of sea trials of Mormugao is testimony to the cutting-edge capabilities of MDSL and the strong indigenous shipbuilding tradition of a modern and vibrant India.
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Ministry of Defence
AWWA provides 3,700 food packets to the needy in Delhi
Army Wives Welfare Organisation  today handed over 2,500 food packets to the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi for distribution to the needy people during lockdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Some 1,200 food packets were handed over yesterday. The food packet distribution free of charge will continue for five days.
The food packets were prepared under Army’s AWWA Lunch project by families of Officers, Junior Commissioned Officers and Other Ranks at their houses in various colonies of Delhi.
One of the largest voluntary organisations in the country, the AWWA aims for the holistic development and well-being of Army Wives, including their children, rehabilitation of war widows and differently-abled children. It also takes active participation in the activities of Central and State Governments towards improving the living conditions of the poor.
Ministry of Railways
Indian Railways allows e-catering at selected Railway Stations.
Indian Railways has allowed the e-catering services to resume at selected Railway stations This will be subject to compliance of all the Guidelines on health and safety matters issued by Central & State Government and other Authorized agencies under them.
It may noted that IRCTC had written to the Railway Board for the resumption of e catering at selected Railway stations.
IRCTC will have to review the situation now and permit the resumption of e catering services depending upon the feasibility, availability of staff and local restrictions.etc.
The e catering services had been suspended as a measure to prevent the spread of Covid 19.
Ministry of Electronics & IT
India and Papua New Guinea sign MoU on sharing INDIA STACK
Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology  of India and the Ministry of Information and Communication Technology  of Papua New Guinea have signed a Memorandum of Understanding  to share INDIA STACK — a collection of open APIs and digital public goods that aim to facilitate identity, data, and payment services on a large scale.
This collaboration comes after the Union Minister of State for Skill Development & Entrepreneurship and Electronics & IT, Shri Rajeev Chandrasekhar met with Timothy Mark Masiu, MP & Minister for ICT, Papua New Guinea, last week on Thursday. During the meeting, they discussed mutual cooperation in the fields of IT, emerging technologies, and the India stack.
Highlighting the significance of the India stack offerings, MoS Rajeev Chandrasekhar stated, "Prime Minister Narendra Modi ji has a clear vision for India's technology capabilities. The India stack is now available to any country interested in joining the digitalization trend that has accelerated in recent years. Previously, digitization discussions were often centered around disparities between advanced nations and others, but with alliances like this, like-minded countries can cooperate to innovate and implement DPIs  to create a technology and innovation sharing ecosystem.”
The MoU was signed in the presence of Mr. Abhishek Singh, President & CEO of the National eGovernance Division, Ministry of Electronics and IT, Government of India, Mr. Sushil Pal, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Electronics and IT, Government of India, as well as senior officials from the Ministry of External Affairs & National E-Governance Division, MeitY.
Mr. Steven Matainaho, Secretary of the Department of Information and Communication Technology, led the Papua New Guinea delegation, which also included Mr. Noel Colin Awiroweng Mobiha, Board Chairman of the National ICT Authority, and other senior members.
The discussions during the event covered essential aspects of digital transformation, such as Digital Public Infrastructure, Digital Identity, Digital Payment, Data Exchange, Data Governance, Data Protection Policies, internet, and mobile connectivity. The MoU is expected to enhance capacities and facilitate sharing and implementation of population-scale Digital Public Infrastructure and Transformational Platforms/projects to improve living standards and enhance efficiency and transparency in governance.
Earlier in June 2023, India signed MoU with four countries on sharing INDIA STACK during the meeting. Around 150 foreign delegates from 50 countries and over 250 delegates attended the summit in-person and more than 2000 persons attended the summit live.
Ministry of Electronics & IT
Pegatron plant roll out another milestone in PM Shri Narendra Modi ji’s vision of making India a global electronics manufacturing hub: MoS Shri Rajeev Chandrasekhar
Team India - States & the Centre - can partner to accomplish target of US$300 Bn in electronics manufacturing & $1 Trillion Digital Economy
Centre’s PLI scheme can help States become destinations for electronics manufacturing
The Union Minister of State for Electronics & Information Technology and Skill Development & Entrepreneurship, Shri Rajeev Chandrasekhar has said that the opening of the Pegatron mobile manufacturing facility, in Chengalpattu near Chennai today, is another milestone in Shri Narendra Modi ji’s vision of making India a global electronics manufacturing hub.
“It is a symbol of partnership between the Centre and the states to help India achieve the target of US$300 Bn in electronics manufacturing, from the current US$75 billion,” Shri Chandrasekhar said, speaking at the inauguration of the facility.
The plant has been set up by the Taiwanese electronics major under Centre’s popular Production Linked Incentive scheme , in an industrial park in Chengalpattu near Chennai.
The Minister spoke of how the PLI scheme has played a big role in ushering in investments and employment in electronics manufacturing, and that it has catalysed an investment of Rs. 6500 crore in a short span of time, generating employment of over 40,000 in Tamil Nadu alone.
Pointing to the success of Prime Minister’s well calibrated schemes like the Phased Manufacturing Programme  and the PLI, Shri Chandrasekhar said these schemes have propelled the mobile phone sector into new heights. “Mobile phone exports in India in 2015-16 were near zero. They have reached around Rs.50,000 crores. India used to be heavily dependent on imports of mobile phones. In contrast, today, 97 per cent of mobile phones used in India are products of domestic manufacturing.”
Referring to Covid’s impact on the world economy, the MoS said, “The pandemic brought the same challenge to all countries, but the way India coped with it has drawn global Awe and Respect. We have kept Covid behind and are committed to become a Trillion-dollar digital economy by 2026. Team India - States & the Centre - can partner to accomplish this target -- with vision of "Make in India, Make for the World”.
Also, speaking on the occasion, Mr. Cheng Jian Jong, Chairman, Pegatron Technology India said that it has been an extraordinary journey for Pegatron to be in India. “We are overwhelmed by the support extended by Government of India and Tamil Nadu” he said.
The Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, Shri M. K. Stalin, Minister of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Department, Government of Tamil Nadu, Shri T.M. Anbarasan, apart from Mr. Lin Chiu Tan, Managing Director Pegatron Technology India, Ms. Denese Yao, Senior Vice President Pegatron Corporation, Mr. Kuo Shing Jung CEO Pegatron Technology India were also present on the occasion.
Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers
Pricing Policy of Costly Medicines
The extant National Pharmaceutical Pricing Policy , notified on 7th December, 2012, has been formulated with an objective to put in place a regulatory framework for pricing of drugs so as to ensure availability of essential medicines at reasonable prices while providing sufficient opportunity for innovation and competition to support the growth of pharma industry. The policy made a shift from earlier ‘cost based’ pricing under the Drug Policy, 1994 to ‘market based’ pricing.
In pursuance of NPPP, 2012, the Government notified the Drugs  Order, 2013 . As per the provisions of DPCO, 2013, the ceiling price of all scheduled formulations appearing in National List of Essential Medicines , are fixed by National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority  and are uniform throughout the country. All the manufacturers of these drugs are required to sell their product equal to or lower than the ceiling price. Further, NPPA monitors the prices of non-scheduled drugs so as to ensure that the increase in their Maximum Retail Price  is not more than 10% of what was prevalent during preceding twelve months.
The information was given by the Union Minister of Chemicals and Fertilizers, Shri Mansukh Mandaviya in a written reply in the Lok Sabha today.
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Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
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India’s Cumulative COVID-19 Vaccination Coverage exceeds 218.52 Cr
Over 4.10 Cr 1st dose vaccines administered for age group 12-14 years
India's Active caseload currently stands at 39,583
3,947 new cases reported in the last 24 hours
Recovery Rate currently stands at 98.73%
Weekly Positivity Rate is presently at 1.44%
India’s COVID-19 vaccination coverage has exceeded 218.52 Cr  as per provisional reports till 7 am today.
COVID-19 vaccination for the age group 12-14 years was started on 16 March, 2022. So far, more than 4.10 Cr  adolescents have been administered with the first dose of COVID-19 vaccine. Similarly, the COVID-19 precaution dose administration for age group 18-59 years also started from 10th April, 2022 onwards.
The break-up of the cumulative figure as per the provisional report till 7 am today include:
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Cumulative Vaccine Dose Coverage
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HCWs
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1st Dose
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1,04,15,181
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2nd Dose
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1,01,18,631
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Precaution Dose
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70,20,632
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FLWs
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1st Dose
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1,84,36,783
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2nd Dose
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1,77,16,255
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Precaution Dose
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1,36,46,608
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Age Group 12-14 years
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1st Dose
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4,10,15,565
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2nd Dose
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3,17,45,589
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Age Group 15-18 years
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1st Dose
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6,19,41,732
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2nd Dose
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5,30,57,606
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Age Group 18-44 years
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1st Dose
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56,12,69,907
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2nd Dose
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51,57,54,137
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Precaution Dose
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9,53,04,022
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Age Group 45-59 years
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1st Dose
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20,40,28,643
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2nd Dose
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19,69,59,736
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Precaution Dose
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4,86,47,268
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Over 60 years
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1st Dose
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12,76,68,271
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2nd Dose
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12,31,37,065
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Precaution Dose
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4,73,33,079
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Precaution Dose
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21,19,51,609
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Total
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2,18,52,16,710
India’s Active Caseload currently stands at 39,583. Active cases now constitute 0.09% of the country's total Positive Cases.
Consequently, India’s recovery rate stands at 98.73%. 5,096 patients have recovered in the last 24 hours and the cumulative tally of recovered patients  is now at 4,40,19,095.
3,947 new cases were reported in the last 24 hours.
The last 24 hours saw a total of 3,20,734 COVID-19 tests being conducted. India has so far conducted over 89.50 Cr  cumulative tests.
Weekly Positivity Rate in the country currently stands at 1.44% and the Daily Positivity rate is reported to be 1.23%.
Ministry of Law and Justice
Justice Clocks Installed Across the Court Complexes of High Courts
(Electronic signage systems known as Justice Clocks have been across the court complexes of High Courts.The initiative will inform stakeholders about court-related key parameters and bring awareness among public by providing bird eye view of court-related data,
Ministry of Home Affairs
Punjab farmers not blamed over issue of Bonded Labourers in border villages of Punjab
MHA has only sought appropriate action against human trafficking syndicates
A section of the media has erroneously reported that this Ministry has written to the Punjab Government allegedly levelling grave charges against the farmers of the state. These news reports are misleading and present a distorted and highly editorialized opinion of a simple observation about a socioeconomic problem emerging from four sensitive border districts of Punjab over a period of two years, which has been brought to the attention of this Ministry by the concerned CAPF.
Firstly, no motive can be ascribed to a letter issued by this Ministry to a particular State or States as this is part of routine communication over Law and Order issues. This letter has also been forwarded to Secretary, Union Ministry of Labour & Employment with a request to carry out a sensitization exercise in all States, with an aim to check the duping of vulnerable victims at the hands of unscrupulous elements.
Secondly, some of the news reports about the letter have juxtaposed in a totally unrelated context to conclude that the MHA has framed “grave charges” against the farmers of Punjab and has also connected this with the ongoing farmers’ agitation. The letter clearly and only states that “human trafficking syndicates” hire such labourers and they are “exploited, paid poorly and meted out inhuman treatment” besides luring them with drugs to extract more labour affecting their “physical and mental health”.
Keeping in view the multi-dimensional and overwhelming enormity of the problem, this Ministry has only requested the State Government to “take suitable measures to address this serious problem”.
Ministry of Textiles
Symposium on Emerging Opportunities for Indian Textiles and Crafts held in New Delhi
Union Minister of Textiles and WCD, Smriti Zubin Irani has said that time has come to focus on the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises . Speaking at a symposium on Emerging Opportunities for Indian Textiles and Crafts held in New Delhi, she said that the Textiles Ministry will get in touch with small scale manufactures, who are meeting exports compliances, meeting delivery schedules and support them with finance, legislation, certification, quality control programmes and R&D to make them leaders in their respective sphere.
Smriti Zubin Irani said there is a need to diversify our established opportunities instead of leaving the space for one Export Promotion Council  or one segment. She stressed on augmenting domestic capabilities. She further said that the industry should resolve to ensure that India is not a nation of job workers but a leader in textiles sector. The Textiles Minister also said that her Ministry always worked extra mile for every issue highlighted by the industry. Observing that India has been satisfied with just 10 big textiles companies for long, the Minister said that the time has come now for 100 new companies to spring up.
The Minister appealed to the textiles industry to fulfill the intention behind the Prime Minister’s announcement on anti-dumping duty on PTA and National Mission on Technical Textiles. Smriti Zubin Irani also asked the industry to meet the requirements of Jal Jivan Mission and farmers, apart from focusing on exports.
In his key note address, Secretary Textiles, Ravi Capoor said that the global economy is passing through a critical juncture and India should step into and seize the big opportunity. Referring to Government’s decision on the MMF  sector, he said it is a bold decision that opens up huge opportunity. He said that the industry should add up to its capacity and occupy the space vacated by China. China vacated USD 20 billion dollar apparel space in the last 3 years and most of this was in the MMF sector.
The Textiles Secretary said that the Technical Textile is one of the high growth potential areas where expertise needs to be developed. National Mission on Technical Textile will help provide the requisite support to the manufacturing sector to make globally competitive.
The symposium was attended by senior officers of the Ministries of Commerce & Industry and Textiles, representatives of EPCs, buying offices and buying agents.